Sir: According to a news item, Senate Chairman Farook Naik has proposed that the teaching of Arabic should be made compulsory in all schools of the country. I would like to ask the good senator if he is aware that even today, after 62 years as an independent country, Urdu is not spoken in many places in Pakistan. One visit to the rural areas will convince him of this. Does he think that Saudi Arabia will shower billions of dollars on us if Pakistanis suddenly become proficient in Arabic?

Furthermore, has Mr Naik himself taken the trouble to learn the language? Has he made his children learn it as well? I suggest that he immediately hire a tutor. That will give him some idea of how much expenditure is involved and whether the average Pakistani has the time and money for it.